What It’s Really Like to Join Our Small Group Travel Experiences
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photo by Marta Buso, taken in Venice, Italy
Spending 10 full days exploring three different major cities in Italy sounds great - until you realize how much time, effort, and energy you’ll have to put in to make it happen.
And then you’re wondering who you’ll get to go with you, because you don’t really have a travel partner right now. You want to be traveling more, but you don’t want to go by yourself.
Then, the worry and the doubt starts to creep in a little, and you wonder if maybe it would be better to just look at photos online and live vicariously through online posts from other people that are traveling to all the places you’re dreaming of visiting.
But now, you’re stuck back in the same place you started… feeling excited about the idea of traveling someplace new, only to find yourself giving up on the idea before you even start to truly consider it.
I get it! And I want to help you.
That’s why I launched my small group travel arm of my travel design company (you can view the itinerary of our first trip here).
And that’s why I want to share with you EXACTLY what it’s like to join our small groups, using the exact words of one of our travelers!
But first - here is what our small group trips are NOT:
They are NOT massive groups that require you to have an earpieces in your ear on every tour and to chase down the tour guide because they’re moving way more quickly than you are
They are NOT going to leave you feeling like you didn’t really experience the site, monument, or city you’ve paid to visit because you weren’t able to truly connect with any local people or culture
They are NOT for people that don’t want to engage with any strangers - from the moment we arrive in destination together, we are all travel buddies, and we LOVE to get to know our local guides, the cafe owners, and anyone else that we come across
They are NOT for travelers that prefer to live life through a screen. Pictures are great, but we’re here for the experience, and the authentic connections to people and places that only come from truly living in the moment
And now, in the words of one of our new travel buddies, this is what it’s truly like to experience one of our small group trips!
How would you describe your accommodations?
Accommodations were excellent! The weather in Italy was unusually warm, however, all the hotels had excellent A/C. Breakfast at each hotel was also very good. A wide variety of food to chose from. Lastly all the hotel personnel were very helpful and friendly!
How would you describe the quality of food during your stay?
Most of our meals were on our own. We chose to eat at modest establishments most of the time so the food was okay. However, we did have a very good meal on a wine tour in Venice. We did consume alot of gelato which was always excellent!
How would you describe the overall planning process with Fresh World Travel Co.?
Exceptional. It has been almost a decade since I have traveled outside of the US so having another person handle all the details of transportation / transfers for us took away any worries of getting it "right". Not having that responsibility allowed us to enjoy the trip even more.
What was your favorite memory of the trip?
There are so many favorite memories. I saw the Sistine Chapel before it was restored 30 years ago. Seeing it restored was one of my trip goals. Little did I know there were many more favorites to follow: the Pitti Palace, St. Paul's, visiting Siena, and just wondering through the streets of each city. But doing all of this with friends was the best!
Would you work with Fresh World Travel Co. again?
Absolutely
Is there anything that you wish you had known about your destination prior to arrival?
I felt very prepared for the trip so no nothing happened that I wasn't prepared for.
Is there anything else that you would like to share about your experience and trip?
I really enjoyed the trip with FWT. However, there are two things I haven't mentioned. One, having a scheduled activity in the morning followed by free time in the afternoon was the perfect arrangement. That allowed us to either wonder around to visit other sites or relax. Two, having a tour guide that spoke Italian allowed us to relax and not have to worry about arrangements, etc. More time to enjoy the tour.
Our small group enjoyed breakfast together at our hotels each morning, we traveled via direct train between cities together, and we experienced some of the most amazing sites in Rome, Florence, and Venice together - most of us for the very first time!
I passionately believe that travel makes the world a better place. It exposes us to people that are different than us, to places that are unfamiliar, and strengthens our ability to be compassionate. Traveling stretches our ability and empowers us to grow, increasing our self confidence and can-do ability. Spending our dollars intentionally in a way that supports local businesses and economies improves quality of life for the real people in the destinations we dream of visiting.
Perhaps most importantly, traveling clearly shows us that different people living differently than us are more similar to us than not. We all love, we all seek joy, and we are all incredible collections of stardust that have the opportunity to exist in time and space at the same time.
Let’s make the world a better place. I can’t wait to see you on our next small group trip!
I’m Erin, your new travel bestie. Based in Michigan with plans to see the entire globe, I am passionate about empowering my travel clients to create and experience your very best adventure. After studying abroad in Rome during college, marrying the love of my life in 2020 (COVID wedding!), and becoming a mom, I know that we all want to spend less time stressing on the internet and more time enjoying the people we love. Let me help you achieve this by taking on the work of designing your next vacation for you, so you can spend that time enjoying your people instead.
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